An authoritative walk through the train

Busted 

The LA metro system is lightyears behind the rest of the other major cities in the world in several aspects. I've said this before and I'm not the only one. The part of the metro system I've never understood is the "honor" system when it comes to the fare. Paper tickets are sold at each rail station where you could buy a day pass for $5 or a one way ticket for $1.50. There are also plastic "tap" passes that you can reload and pay your fare on special tap stands as you walk through any train platform. There isn't anyone you show your pass to, and there aren't any turnstiles on the majority of the stations. If you're strapped for cash, forgot to break change or don't have time to buy a ticket as the train approaches, it's understandable if you skip buying a ticket. The likelyhood of metro sheriffs citing you are quite low even though there are warning signs everywhere about the consequence of breaking this rule. A $250 fine if you're caught without the proper ticket. So when the metro police suddenly decide they want to enforce the rules, they can rake in a good amount of money. I read the MTA want to make some major changes to address this problem.  To be honest, I don't know why this loose fare method was ever the norm in the first place.

That said, everytime I've seen someone get busted I can't help but feel bad for them. Sure, it's their own fault and that's the gamble they decided to take. But I've risked it before, especially when I was in high school and I got lucky. $250 is a devastating setback for many of these violators and conversely patrons not paying their fare is devastating to the city since it quickly adds up.

Whenever I hear the occassional "TICKETS AND PASSES" echo through the train, I panic for a split second and make sure I have my pass on me. I'd rather complain about money slipping through my fingers rather than knowing exactly where that money went. My final thought on the issue? I'm quite sure less people would take that $250 risk if the MTA didn't make it so incredibly easy. 

damn...

Walking with too much

Gateway shadows c.2009

When I was a child, my mom and I would always pass by the Whittier Blvd. arch on our walks to the Commerce shopping center. Everytime I pass by that arch now, I'm reminded of her forgetfulness. 

My mom would constantly forget we didn't have a car to put our purchases into. She'd always buy too much, and would often use me as a sort of shopping cart. Carrying five grocery bags on each arm was normal for me. The most embarrassing thing she and my grandma ever made me do was to "wear" an extra grocery bag as a backpack by putting my arms through the bag handles.

Some habits are hard to break. Those experiences are exactly why you'll find me carrying a massive amount of things from a car at once rather than making multiple (and more practical) trips. Sometimes if I walk or take public transportation to a store, I might forget I didn't drive there... just like mom did.

A westbound walk through public storage

I was having a difficult day and walking always seems to help me blow off steam. I was on my way home from visiting my mother when I decided to do something I’ve always been curious to try…walk across Whittier Crossing, or better known as the 6^th street bridge. This bridge connects East Los Angeles to the industrial district of Downtown Los Angeles.

I’ve crossed this bridge hundreds of times, especially when it was part of my commute in high school. It always terrified me. Its quite old and I always had this fear that an earthquake would strike while I’m crossed it. Over the years I’d always see cyclists, the homeless, and other photographers walking on it. Much too often the entire bridge would be closed off due to filming a commercial or movie scene …which was never convenient.

One Sunday afternoon I parked my car near Whittier and Boyle, grabbed my camera and began my dreaded walk.I wasn’t interested in any landscape shots. Partly because I’m afraid of heights and partly because its been done to death. I looked down and around. I looked at the things drivers typically miss. Things joggers and cyclists might miss too.

I noticed severe cracks in the structure and a terrifying gap off to the side of one of the sightseeing “balconies”. The gap was so large that my foot could easily be lodged in. Before this state starts building ridiculous multimillion-dollar trains connecting LA to San Fran, shouldn’t we focus on repairing what we already have??

I was getting closer to the horrendous arches in the middle of the bridge. They’re a terrible gray color and an eye sore. The ugly matte texture is similar to that of the Eiffel tower, however unlike that Eiffel tower, the 6^th street bridge is just as ugly at night.

A westbound bound walk through public storage Series C.2008 Los Angeles, CA

A westbound bound walk through public storage Series C.2008 Los Angeles, CA

I’ve always hated it, but the arches are what make the bridge so recognizable. Upon gazing at the actual arch up close and admiring a city skyline in the shadows, I noticed something that astounded me. A blanket neatly folded inside one of the divisions of the arch. I zigzag in and out of the two arches and found more items. The gray arches, which make it so recognizable, had literally become public storage.

I can’t tell you why exactly, but I was blown away. Many of us have become used to the sight of random shopping carts filled with items that clearly belong to a homeless person. Many of us have become used to the sight of a person sleeping on a bench, sidewalk, or an alley…but there was something about seeing these items stored away in hopes of it not getting stolen that really struck me.

A westbound bound walk through public storage Series C.2008 Los Angeles, CA

A westbound bound walk through public storage Series C.2008 Los Angeles, CA

I would say its safe to assume that most people who drive by the bridge don’t really think twice about what they miss as they cross. Most probably look straight ahead at the end of the bridge with one eye on the skyline. One might even ask why on earth anyone would walk across that bridge? Maybe because some have to…